Justice News

Maryland Man Sentenced To 20 Months In Prison For Robbery And Assault Of Woman In Northwest Washington-Victim Suffered A Traumatic Brain Injury In The Attack-

WASHINGTON – Derius Pierre, 20, of Cheverly, Md., has been sentenced to a 20-month prison term for assaulting a woman during a robbery last year in Northwest Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced today.

Pierre pled guilty in September 2013, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to charges of aggravated assault and attempted robbery. He was sentenced on Nov. 7, 2013 by the Honorable Robert I. Richter. Upon completion of his prison term, Pierre will be placed on three years of supervised release.

According to the government’s evidence, on May 17, 2012, at about 11 p.m., the victim was walking in the 2200 block of Ontario Road NW when she was struck from behind in the neck. She lost consciousness and fell to the ground, on top of a laptop computer she was carrying. She chipped several teeth and suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of the fall. Pierre and his accomplice, meanwhile, fled with the victim’s purse, which contained her wallet, sunglasses, keys, Metro card, Blackberry and other items.

An eyewitness, who yelled for police, reported seeing Pierre and a second assailant attack the victim. Pierre was arrested a short time later by officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Officers’ recovered the victim’s wallet, with her bank and credit cards, keys, and driver’s license from Pierre’s pocket. The second assailant, a juvenile, also was arrested.

Since the attack, the victim has experienced severe pain, an inability to focus, and difficulty maintaining her attention. It is unknown how long these effects will last.

At his plea hearing, Pierre admitted to aiding and abetting the assault and the robbery.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of those who investigated the case from the MPD. He also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Elsa Resendiz and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott L. Sroka, who investigated and prosecuted the case.